Alleged pole barn scammers indicted in Defiance County

DEFIANCE - Three people who prosecutors say operated a fictitious construction company in Paulding County, taking more than $100,000 in deposits to put up pole barns that were never built in Fulton, Defiance, and several southwest Ohio counties have been indicted by a Defiance County grand jury on theft and other charges.

Steven Hanson, his wife, Jamie Fauver Hanson, and their employee, Rodney Osbun, operated New Wave Construction out of the Hansons' then-home near Cecil in northern Paulding County, according to the Ohio attorney general and the Defiance County prosecutor's office.

They advertised that their company was bonded and insured, when it was neither. Between May, 2002 and the end of 2003, they took deposit checks from 12 Ohioans in seven counties without doing the work, prosecutors said.

Mr. Hanson and Mr. Osbun, who prosecutors said went to homes to make their sales after getting responses to their ads, were indicted for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, telecommunications fraud, and securing writings by deception.

Mr. Hanson also was indicted for aggravated theft; Mr. Osbun and Mrs. Hanson for grand theft.

Mr. Hanson, who lives east of Wauseon, was previously convicted of theft in Lucas County in relationship to New Wave Construction. He and Mr. Osbun, who lives in Indiana, also face charges in Shelby County in west central Ohio.

Among the grand jury's 21 other recent indictments were:

●Amanda M. Mullins, 21, of Defiance, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. Authorities allege she caused a death while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or while being reckless. She was involved in a crash in August south of Defiance where Veronica Mullins, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene.

●David C. Morton, 34, of Defiance, 10 counts of rape. Authorities allege he engaged in sexual conduct with a juvenile under age 13 on five occasions and with a juvenile under age 10 on five occasions. Amy M. Morton, 31, of the same address, was indicted for two counts of endangering children, both misdemeanors.

●Alexander F. Davis, 18, of Defiance, inducing panic. Authorities allege he made a bomb threat at Defiance High School.

●Jason D. Reed, 28, of Napoleon, five counts of theft of drugs and five counts of tampering with drugs. Authorities allege he altered and took medication from residents at Laurels of Defiance while he was employed as a nursing assistant.

●Scott R. Tressler, 24, of Ney, two counts of sexual battery and one count of corrupting another with drugs.